Midwives

A Novel

By: Chris Bohjalian

Narrated by: Kate Burton

Length: 4 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

With a suspense, lyricism, and moral complexity that recall To Kill a Mockingbird and Presumed Innocent, this addictive novel explores what happens when a woman who has devoted herself to ushering life into the world finds herself charged with responsibility in a patient's tragic death.

The time is 1981, and Sibyl Danforth has been a dedicated midwife in the rural community of Reddington, Vermont, for fifteen years. But one treacherous winter night, in a house isolated by icy roads and failed telephone lines, Sibyl takes desperate measures to save a baby's life. She performs an emergency Caesarean section on its mother, who appears to have died in labor. But what if--as Sibyl's assistant later charges--the patient wasn't already dead, and it was Sibyl who inadvertently killed her?

As recounted by Sibyl's precocious fourteen-year-old daughter, Connie, the ensuing trial bears the earmarks of a witch hunt except for the fact that all its participants are acting from the highest motives--and the defendant increasingly appears to be guilty. As Sibyl Danforth faces the antagonism of the law, the hostility of traditional doctors, and the accusations of her own conscience, Midwives engages, moves, and transfixes us as only the very best novels ever do.

©2007 Chris Bohjalian (P)2007 Random House, Inc. Random House Audio, a division of Random House, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Superbly crafted and astonishingly powerful.... Will thrill readers who cherish their worn copies of To Kill A Mockingbird." —People

"Astonishing ... will keep readers up late until the last page is turned." —The Washington Post Book World

Great Story

I highly recommend this book. The story of a lay midwife held me unable to put it down. I am an RN,I had my children aprox 38 years ago with top doctor's,in an excellent hospital with a NICU Unit. It was a horrible experience, they would not let me walk and kept me flat while I labored. Probably the worst position to labor in. My daughter had my grandson with a wonderful nurse midwife, in a hospital. It was to be an underwater birth, my daughter got out of the tub as she became too hot. She gave birth on a birthing stool, and the midwife" caught" my grandson. My daughter had a doula who was wonderful and a great help also. She got to hold him right away, no episiotomy at all. He was the most peaceful baby I have ever seen. I believe in certified nurse midwives affiliated with a hospital. If you are high risk that is a completely different situation. Many years ago there midwives who were not nurses, probably in my grandmother's time, as they lived in rural areas.

professional decision is

professional decision is hard when you are alone. Never knew what a midwife in modern times would have to know.. malpractice, medical equipment for breathing, license to practice medicine. What if she was a minority race, a male, etc what would the outcome have been?

Loved it!!!

I’ve read this book. To have it later in life read to me … what a fun experience. Thank you!

Why only abridged?

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

I really enjoyed this - it was well-performed and a very compelling story. But my feeling with this one, as with most abridged works, is "What am I missing?" I don't necessarily feel the story wasn't told completely, but I always feel like I'm cheating the author if I only have the abridged version. Sadly, only an abridged audio version was available. I guess I just don't like other people deciding what was "important."

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

Relieved that this ordeal was over!! Wow... insane.

Have you listened to any of Kate Burton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Her voice sounds familiar, but I can't place what else I have listed to that she has narrated.

Amazing! Couldn't stop listening!

This was an amazing book! I tried to find excuses to listen to it....normally I just listen when driving but I couldn't stop!

Well Read

What made the experience of listening to Midwives the most enjoyable?

The narrator did a great job. There were many characters yet I it was easy to follow along with the story and who was speaking at the time. I have only listened to 6-7 audiobooks in my lifetime and I was feeling very sad to think that ALL of the narrators would sound the same as they have been doing! I thought they must all go to school for training to sound this way! So, this book was a welcome change and very warmly embraced! My favorite audiobook not found here, was read by Stockard Channing. Now she made me laugh and cry as did the story! Audible.com could use more narrators like her.

Poignant and thought-provoking

This is a story about a Vermont midwife who goes outside her area of expertise and gets charged with a crime. The writing is excellent, the story moves along quickly, and this audio performance by Kate Burton is great. You will be thinking about this story after you finish listening to it. Highly recommended.

Enjoyed it....a good read

this touched my mother heart on Many levels....having chosen home birth myself. i shared this book with my daughter and would recommend to others.

Absolutely Fantastic!

Everything about this story was great. The writing was exceptional, the story itself kept me engaged the entire time and the narrator was very good!

Abridged version no good

Book was ruined by being abridged. Don’t waste your time and money. Get the book.